Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a cover to open and close a front of the main body, a tray slidably mounted in the main body through the front of the main body, at least one developing cartridge mounted in the main body in a state in which the developing cartridge is received in the tray, at least one driving coupler member provided at one side of the main body to drive the developing cartridge mounted in the main body, a link member operating simultaneously with opening and closing of the cover to move in a first direction, and a guide member to support the at least one driving coupler member, the guide member operating simultaneously with the link member to move in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the guide member is pressed by the link member, when the cover opens the main body, to separate the driving coupler member from the developing cartridge.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2011-0104017, filed on Oct. 12, 2011 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]Embodiments of the present inventive concept relate to an image forming apparatus with a driving structure to drive a developing cartridge.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]An image forming apparatus forms an image on printing media according to an input signal. The image forming apparatus includes a printer, copier, facsimile and a multifunction device having functions of the printer, copier, and facsimile.[0006]An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which is a kind of image forming apparatus, includes a developing cartridge including an image carrier and a developing device and an optical scanning unit. The optical scanning unit sca...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This solution simplifies the driving structure, reduces manufacturing costs, and enhances the stability of the developing cartridge's mounting and separation process, improving product durability and ease of use.

Problems solved by technology

However, the number of stationary cams is increased in correspondence to that of the rotary cams, thereby increasing the number of parts and increasing manufacturing costs.

Also, a space in which the stationary cam is installed is increased, and therefore, it may be difficult to decrease the size of the image forming apparatus.

For the horizontal cam, on the other hand, the direction in which force is applied from the horizontal cam to the rotary cam is different from the direction in which the rotary cam is moved, and therefore, it may be difficult to stably move the coupler as compared with the stationary cam.

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